Tony Killeen
Ceist:46 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to allocate additional funds to the Mid-Western Health Board to alleviate pressure on bed numbers at St. Joseph's Hospital, Ennis, County Clare. [11981/95]
Written Answers - Ennis (Clare) Hospital.
Limerick East): Responsibility for the provision of long stay accommodation for the elderly in St. Joseph's Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance.
The board informs me that there are 265 beds in St. Joseph's, Ennis and at present 244 patients in the hospital. In recent years there has been no waiting list for beds in this hospital. A case conference is held each week at which admissions are discussed. All patients awaiting admission are accommodated within a few weeks. My Department is considering a number of proposals for capital funding in the Mid-Western Health Board area including funding for St. Joseph's Hospital. This proposal will be considered in the light of capital resources available to the health services and the competing capital priorities of the Mid-Western Health Board.